DOH: Info drive on COVID-19 vaccine benefits can boost vaccine confidence to 85%

An intensified information dissemination on the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine can increase vaccine confidence up to 85%, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday. 

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the comment in response to health workers—the first priority in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program—who are skeptical of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

“During our recent town hall meetings, we do a survey at the start. It is 60% [at the start] and after, it goes up to 80 to 85%. Kaya makikita natin iyong kahalagahan ng relaying of information,” Vergeire said. 

Town hall meetings are public consultations that the DOH conducts to promote the availment of COVID-19 vaccination. 

The DOH has so far conducted town hall meetings with medical associations and nurses’ groups.

“Tumataas [ang kumpiyansa] kapag na-explain natin sa ating mga health workers na itong mga bakunang paparating ay safe, magbibigay ng benepisyo sa ating populasyon,” Vergeire pointed out.

“Kaya meron tayong ganitong information dissemination…i-mobilize rin natin ang mga medical societies dahil alam namin na people have a high regard for physicians. Gagawin natin silang champions [for vaccination]. Malaki po ang maitutulong nila para sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon na ang COVID-19 vaccines na darating sa bansa ay safe at epektibo,” she added.

Only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. earlier said vaccine confidence will get a huge boost if President Rodrigo Duterte gets a COVID-19 vaccine. Ninety-two percent of Filipinos believe that Duterte has done well in preventing COVID-19 transmission in the country, results of a Pulse Asia survey conducted in September 2020 showed.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday encouraged Duterte to be among the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot to boost the public's confidence in vaccinations.

The President, however, said he would rather be vaccinated last in favor of health care workers, police, military and the poor. 

The Philippines has recorded 500,577 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday. Of this number, 465,991 recovered while 9,895 died. 

The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 24,691. —KG, GMA News